Assessment of Polypharmacy, Anticholinergic Burden, and Drug-Drug Interactions in Geriatric Psychiatry: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Polypharmacy is common in geriatric psychiatry due to comorbid conditions, increasing the likelihood of adverse drug reactions, anticholinergic burden (ACB), and drug drug interactions (DDIs). These factors contribute to cognitive decline, falls, and hospitalization. This cross-sectional study analyzes prescriptions of geriatric patients in a tertiary care psychiatric hospital. Data on prescribed medications will be collected, and tools such as the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale and the Medscape Interaction Checker will assess ACB and DDIs, respectively. The study identifies high risk medications and explores correlations between polypharmacy, ACB, and DDIs. Findings from this study will also highlights prescribing patterns, potential risks, and the need for deprescribing strategies to optimize geriatric mental health care. Expected outcomes include insights into medication safety, recommendations for minimizing ACB and DDIs, and improved clinical guidelines for geriatric psychiatric patients.